Rumours of an upcoming Chevrolet Corvette SUV have been circulating within the car community for a couple of years now. A Car and Driver report provides even more context, suggesting a possible debut for the all-new model as early as 2025.
Unsurprisingly, there has been no official confirmation of a Corvette SUV from GM. However, the possibility of the eight-gen Corvette supercar morphing into an SUV might not be so far-fetched. In fact, such a move by the American carmaker could help inject an extra dose of momentum into the brand.
GM already took a high-stakes gamble with the transition to a mid-engine layout for the C8 Corvette, a first for any production Corvette. The gamble turned out to be a strategy masterstroke. The new architecture unlocked a new level of performance for the Corvette, pushing it right into supercar territory and making it a serious rival to traditional sector heavyweights from carmakers like Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren.
The success of the C8 Corvette provides a compelling foundation for an SUV. The idea of a vehicle that blends the exhilarating driving dynamics of a sports car with the practicality and versatility of an SUV has lured other carmakers in the past, and GM could very well join the train.
Following a Trend
A Corvette SUV would not be an industry first. As mentioned earlier, other carmakers have been down this route already. The 1992 GMC Typhoon, with all-wheel drive and a turbocharged V6, is often regarded as the first performance SUV. However, it was not until the arrival of the Porsche Cayenne in 2002 that things began to get really serious.
The Cayenne was proof that a luxury SUV could mimic the handling characteristics of a sports car without compromising its versatility. The Cayenne became a massive success story for Porsche, with record sales and profits injecting much-needed cash flows into the company’s operations.
The Porsche SUV was a dominant force for several years until other performance car brands took notice and responded. Now, there is more variety, with models like the Lamborghini Urus, Maserati Levante, Aston Martin DBX and Bentley Bentayga Speed, all jostling for market space. Even Ferrari refused to watch from the sidelines. For years, the carmaker firmly declared that a Ferrari SUV was completely out of the question. Until it did an abrupt ‘about-face’ and unleashed the Purosangue (which they curiously chose to describe as an FUV – Ferrari Utility Vehicle).
What this means for GM is that a blueprint of sorts already exists. The American carmaker has case studies from other brands whose performance SUVs have either gone on to become critical successes or floundering deadweights. These examples can serve as a valuable guide for GM, providing insights into the design, engineering, and marketing strategies required to develop and launch a successful Corvette SUV.
What would a Chevrolet Corvette SUV look like?
Car and Driver reported that the new Corvette SUV, should it ever happen, would ride on the same platform that underpins the Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing sedans. These are the only vehicles remaining on GM’s Alpha platform. With the platform nearing the end of its life cycle, it is unclear how much weight can be attached to the report. It does not help that GM has so far remained tight-lipped on the whole subject.
In any case, it would be reasonable to expect that a Corvette SUV would share some resemblance with its supercar sibling, especially around the front and rear ends. The front fascia could incorporate the signature grille design, albeit with larger openings, to accommodate the SUV’s greater cooling needs.
The side profile would likely feature a strong shoulder line and the C8 Corvette’s trademark side intake design. Large, multi-spoke alloy wheels would be a must, filling the wheel arches and emphasizing the SUV’s sporty character. Design elements that could carry over to the rear of the car include the C8 Corvette’s iconic quad taillights and exhaust tips.
A driver-focused cockpit, high-quality materials and a host of advanced technological features are possible interior highlights. In any case, the Chevrolet Corvette SUV would need to be bold and distinctive, able to stand out in a market space that’s fast becoming crowded.
Possible Powertrain Options
The current Corvette lineup is powered by a range of formidable engines. Should GM ever greenlight a Corvette SUV, at least there would be no shortage of options regarding what power unit to fit under the hood.
The base C8 Corvette may be an entry-level model, but it still packs a decent punch in the form of a naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 that generates 490 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Further up the chain is the Z06 Corvette, built around a howling flat-plane crank V8 that cranks out a thumping 670 hp. That engine, adapted for the Corvette SUV, would make it a worthy rival in the performance SUV sector.
However, there’s another option that would surely propel the Corvette SUV to the top of its class. That’s the engine currently reserved for the new ‘King of the Hill’ 2025 Corvette ZR1. Designated LT7, the custom-built 5.5-litre twin-turbocharged V8 is the most powerful production Corvette engine ever made – and by some distance. It is capable of putting out a heady 1,064 hp and 828 lb-ft of torque. It is more powerful than the engine in supercars like the McLaren 765LT, Ferrari SF90 Stradale and even the Lamborghini Revuelto.
If this engine somehow made its way to the Corvette SUV, it would undoubtedly make it one of the most potent performance SUVs ever. Currently, there is no production SUV with a four-figure engine output, and a 1,000-hp Corvette SUV would certainly ruffle more than a few feathers within the car community.
That’s not all. Hybridization has become a big deal in the automobile sector, especially in the last few years. The Corvette has not been immune to the hybrid fad, and one of the current model variants, the Corvette E-Ray, is the first-ever Corvette hybrid. The hybrid pairing of an electric motor and an ICE unit puts out a combined 655 hp. What’s more? The Corvette E-Ray can travel silently on electric power alone for short distances. Also, the electric motor powers the front wheels, while the V8 engine drives the rear wheels, effectively making this the first all-wheel-drive Corvette.
A Corvette SUV hybrid incorporating all these E-Ray attributes would definitely find strong appeal, leveraging the current trend in the automobile sector.
What will GM do?
Will GM pull the trigger? That’s the big question. Because for all the rumours and the exciting possibilities of a Corvette SUV, there is so much more involved in the introduction of an all-new model than hype and drama.
GM will undoubtedly approach this decision with utmost seriousness, considering all options with caution. After all, the carmaker is no stranger to new models that crashed and burned, causing the company a great deal financially and reputation-wise. Examples include vehicles like the Chevrolet SSR, Cadillac Cimarron and the much-maligned Pontiac Aztek.
However, there is a chance that the allure of a Corvette SUV would prove too much for GM to resist. If that happens, we could be treated to one of the most intriguing American performance vehicles in recent times. Time will tell.
